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The sudden shift made the murky air inside the tavern seem to freeze for a moment, making even the faint clinking of glasses at the bar sound extraordinarily grating.

Amber’s aggressively sharp smile looked eerie yet captivating under the dim lights. Her fingers slid lightly across Corvus’s metallic wrist joint, leaving behind a trace of warmth that sparked a sudden, inexplicable restlessness in him. "A new toy?" Amber asked teasingly, only to immediately drop a piece of news that shattered Corvus’s composure.

"I’m no longer interested in your life. After all, I’m not a member of that organization anymore." A flicker of obscure emotion crossed Amber’s eyes before she resumed her nonchalant demeanor. "Feel honored, detective—your boss hired me. I am now an investigator for the Monster Detective Agency: Amber Panthera. Pleasure to work with you, Inspector."

Before the words fully landed, she leaned forward with effortless grace. Before Corvus could react, her lips—carrying the subtle aroma of absinthe—imprinted a soft yet provokingly gentle kiss on his cheek.

Corvus recoiled as if struck by electricity, his iron-cold composure instantly collapsing. He froze in place as a visible crimson flush crept from his neck up to his ears, a rare fluster surfacing in his usually deep and calculating eyes.

He mechanically adjusted the collar of his trench coat, attempting to mask the overwhelming panic that left him almost breathless. Stuttering, he replied:

"S-Since this is... since it’s Master’s wish, then I... I have no choice but to comply." Avoiding Amber’s piercing gaze, he let out a dry cough, forcing himself to regain the air of a resolute detective. "Well then, I look forward to working with you, Miss Amber."

Watching him practically fume with embarrassment, the smile on Amber’s lips deepened, though a complex glint lingered in her eyes.

She gracefully set aside her playfulness, leaning slightly forward to unveil the fatal truth hidden behind the tavern's clamor:

"Don't get too ahead of yourself, Inspector. This game isn't meant for you to sit here blushing and heart-racing." Her slender fingers tapped a few times on the map as her voice dropped, turning icy cold. "Since we’ve entered enemy territory, sit down and listen to an interesting story, Inspector." She gave the glass of absinthe in her fingers a gentle swirl. Cold condensation trickled down her knuckles, matching the utterly lifeless tone that followed: "The place I used to belong to—'Night Meteor'—is a massive beast lurking in the deep shadows, far bigger than you can imagine. Our leader is known as the 'Night Angel,' an entity so secretive that, truth be told, even someone at my rank has never set eyes on their true form." She tilted her head slightly, a cruel smile curving from the corners of her narrowed eyes as she pointed to herself: "The division of labor beneath the organization is as precise as a flawlessly engineered slaughtering machine. My own unit, the 'Enforcer Corps,' is simply a sharp blade tasked with top-tier assassinations and bloody purges that leave no survivors. The 'Blood Moon Mercenaries' handle opening underground smuggling networks, executing local armed robberies, and running mercenary operations. But those are still just the outer fringe. Above them lies a terrifying force I’ve only heard in rumors and never seen with my own eyes—the 'Night Angel Direct Guards.' Supposedly, they are a force of pure killing machines whose strength defies all logic." At this point, Amber’s hand holding the glass paused. Her gaze suddenly pierced toward Corvus like a needle, the sneer at the corner of her lips turning exceptionally harsh: "As for the true murderer who killed your parents... it wasn't any of these core factions, but rather a local Japanese syndicate that was brutally crushed by the organization's absolute force a few years ago and forced to obey like dogs— the 'Mad Dragon Syndicate.' The conjoined monsters, 'Mad Dragon King' Ryugu Yusuke and Ryugu Sasuke, are currently entrenched right here." Amber’s tone turned sharply cold, her eyes casually darting toward the slender figure lurking in the shadows behind Corvus: "The Mad Dragon Syndicate's task within the organization is to harvest and trade 'Demon Ash Crystals'—the very lifeline that keeps 'Night Meteor' operational and refines its core energy. Truth be told, Miss Long Qianqian over there was once one of the fiercest biters among those mad dogs." At the mention of her name, Long Qianqian's spine snapped taut. Amber, as if amused by a joke, let out a few soft, delighted chuckles. "Understand now, my dear Inspector? Back in Shanghai, you wiped out the Mad Dragon Syndicate's crystal outpost and cut off the organization's funding. That's why the higher-ups sent me across the ocean to take your head and sever your left arm." Amber slowly leaned her body forward, her deep purple velvet dress casting dark reflections under the wine-red lights.

She stared intently at Corvus, the chill emanating from her narrowed eyes cold enough to freeze the absinthe on the bar: "So, if you want to move against the 'Mad Dragon Syndicate' for revenge right now, it won't be as simple as raiding a few local mob joints. It means... you must be prepared to wage an all-out war against the entirety of 'Night Meteor' right here in the shadows where the neon lights can't reach." The noise in the tavern faded into a distant blur in an instant; the air felt as though it had been vacuumed empty.

A flash of cold blade light swept past like a gust of wind. Before Corvus could even extend the Crow-Strike short blade from his prosthetic arm, Long Qianqian's figure was forcibly dragged out of sight by a fleeting shadow!

"Qianqian!" Corvus lunged upward, his metallic prosthetic hand leaving five deep grooves scraped into the bar counter.

In the moonlit narrow alley, Long Qianqian was violently pinned against the wall by the swordswoman. Disregarding everything, she twisted and struggled furiously. Her hands blurred, and the instant her captor loosened her grip, she delivered a fierce roundhouse kick straight to the swordswoman's chest.

The swordswoman grunted, but used the momentum to slam Qianqian onto the ground, shattering the surrounding brick paving.

The swordswoman slowly turned around, her stern face hidden beneath the shadow of her hood. She didn't rush to attack. Instead, she reached up and pulled aside her eyepatch, revealing a hollow, horrifyingly scarred right eye socket. Her voice was as chilling as ice: "Long time no see, 'Red Flying Dragon.' What, did you forget so quickly how this right eye was destroyed?"

Panting heavily, Long Qianqian pushed herself up from the ground. Though a trace of shock flickered in her eyes, it was quickly overtaken by anger from the provocation. Staring at the ghastly scar, she spat out cold words: "Who... are you?"

The swordswoman let out a distorted, low laugh that sounded like metal scraping against bone. She stepped closer, radiating overwhelming killing intent: "You really are forgetful. Not only did you brutally gouge out my right eye, but now you don't even remember this face? You heartless, treacherous dragon."

She unsheathed the golden dragon-scale katana at her hip with a sharp metallic slide, its blade reflecting a cold, chilling blue glint under the moonlight. "It doesn't matter anymore. Since your memory is so poor, I'll carve it into your brain myself. No matter what, I am taking one of your eyes today. Even if you have amnesia, it won't erase this debt of blood."

The piercing screech of grinding steel shattered the quiet of the alley. Just as the blade—capable of tearing through the air—was about to strike Long Qianqian, a strand of cold, shimmering magitech wire shot across the alley. The "Crow-Claw Iron Hook" precisely clamped onto the groove of the blade, its powerful pull forcing the swordswoman's stance to a sudden halt.

Corvus stepped out from the shadows at a swift pace. His mechanical prosthetic arm emitted rapid mechanical hums, and the muzzle of his Exorcism Cannon faintly locked onto the opponent. Shielding Long Qianqian behind him, an oppressive chill radiated from his presence. His voice sounded deep as thunder: "Hold it! Who goes there?"

The swordswoman was not angered by the thwarted attack. Her hollow right eye socket turned toward Corvus, a cruel and amused smirk spreading across her face.

"Tch, that 'Launcher' mechanism is quite unique, and the technique is rather interesting." She flicked the blade lightly, producing a low, vibrating hum. She sized up Corvus's cold, gleaming silver prosthetic arm with intrigue, her eyes reflecting a bloodthirsty craving for something novel. "And a fresh face... Are you a newly transferred monster hunter from abroad?"

The swordswoman slowly sheathed her blade and crossed her arms, though her sharp aura remained undiminished—like the eerie calm before a storm. She declared her title with unquestionable arrogance:

"Remember this: I am 'Pale Star' Senbonzakura, belonging to the Japanese Exorcist Organization's Monster Hunter Guild. Since you're an outsider, let me give you a warning: in Kabukicho, there are things that 'foreign hunters' like you shouldn't poke your noses into. Especially when it comes to the blood debt of this 'evil dragon'—today, no one can save her."

Senbonzakura tilted her head slightly, her hollow eye socket appearing exceptionally sinister in the dim alley. She lowered the tip of her blade toward the ground, her previously calm tone giving way to an edge of unyielding madness and contempt:

"I advise you not to do anything foolish," she let out a disdainful scoff, her gaze wandering over Corvus's gleaming silver prosthetic. "This evil dragon is my prey now. If you really plan on fighting me for her, I don't mind slicing you up first."

She paused, as if visualizing the scene in her mind, her tone shifting into something playful:

"After I chop you down, I'll be kind enough to ask the Guild's 'Palicoes' to cart you back for treatment. After all, greenhorn hunters like you overestimating yourselves, hunting high-rank monsters, and getting sent back on a 'Faint Cart' happens all the time in our guild, doesn't it?"

Corvus calmly stepped forward, keeping himself firmly between her and Long Qianqian. He raised his intricately crafted silver mechanical prosthetic slightly, the muzzle of the Exorcism Cannon in his palm glowing with a faint, dangerous hum of energy. His voice remained steady without a hint of emotion, as if stating an unassailable truth.

"You are mistaken, Miss Senbonzakura," Corvus said, looking directly into that hollow eye socket with absolute professionalism. "The Red Flying Dragon was slain by my own hands a long time ago."

He pointed toward Long Qianqian behind him, who remained on high alert. His eyes held no pity, only a precise analysis of his target:

"The girl before you is merely a vessel left behind after the dragon's death—at best, a host containing fragments of its core."

Hearing this, the sharp killing intent Senbonzakura had been gathering dissipated by half, replaced by a mixture of shock and embarrassment. She slowly sheathed her golden dragon-scale blade with a soft clack , then reached up to scratch her hair. Her terrifying right eye socket suddenly looked much less menacing.

"Ah... Is that so?" Senbonzakura cleared her throat awkwardly, her attitude taking a complete turn. The cold hostility she harbored toward an enemy vanished, replaced by a touch of awe for the rumor.

She looked the man up and down—taking in his scent of ash and rust, and his calm, composure.

"They said the Red Flying Dragon was slain by Corvus from the British Monster Detective Agency... So the rumors were actually true..." She paused, her eyes lingering on his metallic prosthetic for a few seconds before she cupped her fists respectfully, her tone becoming far more polite. "Could you be the very 'Detective' whose name has been echoing through the European underworld? My apologies for my lack of recognition. It seems my eyes—or rather, my remaining eye—failed me."

Feeling embarrassed, Senbonzakura straightened her back, dropping her arrogant posture and bowing deeply to Corvus in a solemn gesture: "Since this monster is already your prize, Detective, the Guild's regulations dictate that the right to handle this host belongs to you. Please forgive my rudeness earlier, Detective. My sincerest apologies."

However, this solemn moment was shattered by a light, teasing laugh echoing from the mouth of the alley.

Amber ambled out from the tavern's shadows, casually swirling her glass of absinthe as her high heels clicked on the pavement. The hem of her deep purple dress swayed gently in the night breeze, her perceptive eyes darting between Senbonzakura and Long Qianqian before locking onto them both.

"My, my, what a surprise," Amber giggled, covering her mouth with unabashed amusement. "How is Long Qianqian still alive? Hahaha..."

She walked gracefully up to the two, her eyes mockingly sweeping over Senbonzakura's awkward expression as she teased dramatically, "Senbonzakura, looks like you need to have the Guild re-evaluate your 'Pale Star' title. You couldn't even handle a simple task like putting this evil dragon down?"

Corvus watched Amber's nonchalant act, a vein throbbing at his temple. Glancing at Senbonzakura—who was now eyeing Amber with suspicion and guard—he grabbed Amber's arm, pulled her a few steps away from the hunter, and asked in a low voice:

"Amber, what is this about? Why did you arrange this kind of test?"

Amber let out a soft laugh, letting the ice cubes clink softly in her absinthe glass. She turned her head, her eyes flashing with dangerous radiance as she cast a glance toward Long Qianqian, who had yet to fully relax. Her tone carried a cold, matter-of-fact tone:

"It's nothing. I just wanted to make sure this 'insurance policy' is still usable." She took a sip of her drink, her gaze deepening. "The devastation Long Qianqian caused across Asia in the past made her the top wanted target for every Monster Hunter Guild, everyone wanting her head. Walking through a Guild stronghold like Kabukicho with her means trouble could break out at any moment."

She paused and turned to face Corvus, her playful expression fading into rare seriousness:

"A sudden clash like this was bound to happen sooner or later. I just needed to ensure she still possesses the means and value to survive when facing these rabid hunters. Fortunately, all ended well."

She then turned her attention back to Senbonzakura, waving over to the somewhat embarrassed "Pale Star," her tone returning to its usual composed authority:

"As for Pale Star, I indeed brought her here. To hunt down that conjoined monster, the 'Mad Dragon King,' relying solely on our small group is nothing short of suicide. Senbonzakura may be a bit simple-minded, but her katana techniques are among the finest in the Guild—if we are to eliminate Ryugu Yusuke and Ryugu Sasuke, we need a sharp blade like hers to pierce their defenses."

Hearing this, the awkwardness on Senbonzakura's face had not entirely vanished, but a sharp, intense gleam flashed in her remaining left eye at the mention of the "Mad Dragon King." She swung the heavy, golden dragon-scale katana onto her shoulder with a rugged, innate pride.

"The Mad Dragon King..." Senbonzakura snorted, spitting out a mouthful of bloody saliva. "If it's to take down those two twisted lunatics, I don't mind putting my life on the line for you. Follow me—I'll take you to the Monster Hunter Guild first to meet our Master and discuss the hunt." Turning on her heel, she motioned for the group to follow, her heavy footsteps echoing against the wet cobblestones. 36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfa9rPa8Wu

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